Starbucks is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2021, and since it was started in 1971, Starbucks has become the largest coffee chain in the world, with stores in 83 countries.
Therefore, let’s take a look at some facts and statistics about the company’s history and growth, as well as the trends shown for the future of Starbucks.
Key Takeaways
23 Starbucks Statistics, Facts & Trends In 2022
1. Starbucks was founded in 1971
The first Starbucks store was opened in Seattle in 1971 by three friends, Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker, who met when they were students at the University of San Francisco- Baldwin and Siegl were teachers and Bowker was a writer.
When the store was originally founded, it sold coffee beans, tea and spices.
2. Former CEO Howard Schultz Led Starbucks To Success
Howard Schultz, the former CEO who led Starbucks to success, joined as a manager in 1982. It was his idea to model Starbucks stores based on the coffee houses he saw on a trip to Italy.
Schultz tried without success to persuade Starbucks to open a coffee house, and then left to start his own coffee house named Il Giornale. Later, Schultz bought Starbucks from the original partners.
3. Starbucks Built Their Reputation On Quality Coffee
From the beginning, Starbucks appealed to customers with premium coffees, made from high-quality Arabica beans sourced from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
It’s not just the quality of the ingredients that Starbucks focuses on, but also the equipment used to make Starbucks coffee, as the stores use Swiss-made Mastrena espresso machines, and single-brew Clover coffee makers.
In fact, Starbucks bought the Clover parent company, and now makes their own coffee brewing machines.
Moreover, all ingredients used for Starbucks tea, coffee, drinks, and food items are chosen to be the highest quality.
4. Starbucks Developed Signature Roasts And Drinks
Starbucks grew out of the West Coast coffee roasting revolution in the 1970s and ‘80s, and developed its own signature Pike Place Roast to bring out the taste and flavor of the coffee beans.
Besides coffee, Starbucks also has signature drinks like their frappuccinos and the Pumpkin Spice Latte.
For those who can’t get enough of their coffee, Starbucks roasts and blends are also available for sale as beans, ground coffee, k cups and instant coffee. As well, cold coffees and other cold drinks are sold as bottled drinks to enjoy anywhere.
5. Starbucks Stores Are Designed To Be Welcoming
From the beginning, Starbucks designed their stores to be the Third Place where people could go sit without the obligation to make a purchase.
The large windows and comfortable seating provide a light, airy ambience, with a mixture of sophistication and homelike comfort.
The neighborhood stores are meant to be places to meet, study, work, or relax. It’s quite a different feeling from the fast food atmosphere you’d find at stores such as Dunkin’ Donuts or even McCafe.
6. Starbucks Adopted Ethical Practices Early On
Starbucks pioneered ethical business practices like paying a fair price to their coffee and tea growers, fair trade, and supporting sustainable farming in the places where their coffee, tea and cocoa are grown.
7. Starbucks Employs Hundreds Of Thousands Around The World
Starbucks has 349,000 employees in 83 countries as of 2022.
8. Starbucks Has Stores In Locations Worldwide
The first overseas Starbucks store was opened in Japan in 1996, followed by store openings in Europe in 1998 and China in 1999.
There are now 18,175 Starbucks stores in the US and 33,669 around the world. In fact, China is the fastest-growing market for Starbucks and new store openings.
9. The Highest Concentration Of Starbucks Stores Is In Santa Fe Springs, CA
Santa Fe Springs, California is very enthusiastic about Starbucks, so much so that they have about one store for every 29 people.
With 560 stores within city limits, Santa Fe has the highest concentration of Starbucks stores in the world.
10. Starbucks Issued Their First IPO In 1992
Starbucks issued their first IPO on June 26th, 1992, and the share price rose from $17 to $21.50 on the first day of trading. Starbucks common stock is listed on NASDAQ as SBUX.
However, as we’ve seen, Starbucks isn’t always about the bottom line, and in 2016 became the first US company to offer Corporate Sustainability Bonds.
11. Starbucks Is A Big Earner
Starbucks generated over $23.5 billion in revenues in 2020, which was actually a decline from the previous year due to lockdowns and closures.
In fact, Starbucks is way ahead of its nearest rival in the US, Dunkin’ Donuts.
12. Starbucks Spends More On Health Insurance For Employees Than On Coffee Beans
Starbucks is known to invest in its employees, and that includes training, good wages, and benefits such as healthcare, paid leave and free college tuition.
Interestingly, Starbucks spends more on healthcare for its employees than it does on coffee beans each year.
However, all of this investment pays off because it gives Starbucks a highly trained and motivated workforce.
13. Starbucks’ Net Worth
Starbucks has a net worth of around $84.6 Billion as of 2022.
14. The Starbucks Loyalty Rewards Program Has Over 22 Million Members
The Starbucks loyalty Rewards program is immensely popular with customers, and has 22.9 million active members as of 2022.
In fact, the Rewards program has been growing rapidly over the years and doesn’t seem to be slowing down, as the company is looking to achieve 40 million Rewards members within a couple of years.
15. Classics Lead The List Of Best Selling Coffees
The Cafe Mocha is the best selling coffee at Starbucks, followed by the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew.
Cold brews are the fastest growing sector of product sales, which is somewhat surprising, because Starbucks is best known as a stop for a morning cup of coffee.
16. Starbucks Holiday Drinks Are A Traditional Surprise
Customers look forward to the Starbucks tradition of introducing new holiday drinks and food items every year.
Some seasonal items like the Pumpkin Spice Latte return every year, which is also eagerly awaited. In fact, when a new drink or food item is particularly popular, it becomes part of the permanent menu.
17. Frappuccino Is A Starbucks Trademark
Frappuccinos are iced drinks with just about any combination of coffee, tea, juice and syrup,
and while other companies have created their own versions of the Frappuccino, the name is actually trademarked by Starbucks.
18. Cold Drinks Account For Half Of All Sales
Starbucks customers don’t just head to the store for a nice hot cup of coffee- iced coffees and other cold drinks are a major attraction as well.
In fact, iced coffees, cold brews, and cold drinks like Frappuccinos, Refreshers and iced teas account for 50% of all Starbucks sales.
19. Fresh Coffee Is Always Fresh At Starbucks
At Starbucks, you’ll never be served a brew that’s more than thirty minutes old, as all coffee pots are on a timer.
All stores have four pots of coffee brewing at any time, and baristas rotate these to make sure there will always be fresh coffee available for customers.
Other drinks like iced coffee, iced tea, and pastries are also carefully monitored and served fresh.
Many of the Starbucks menu innovations also reflect changing customer preferences, such as adding plant-based milks like soy milk and oat milk as substitutes for dairy.
21. Starbucks Is The World’s Largest Coffee Chain
Starbucks is the world’s biggest coffee chain, way ahead of the competition like Dunkin’ Donuts, McDonald’s, Costa Coffee, Tim Hortons, and others.
22. The Siren Logo Is Familiar Worldwide
The Starbucks logo with the siren wearing a crown is recognizable around the world, even without the words “Starbucks Coffee Company” listed below the logo.
23. Starbucks Made A Sustainability Pledge And Lives Up To It
Sustainability is a big part of the Starbucks brand and has made a public commitment to reducing their carbon footprint and cutting down on waste.
To know more about Starbucks, you can also see our posts on Starbucks competitors, the most popular Starbucks drinks, and why Starbucks is successful.
Conclusion
Starbucks is a major global corporation that has used innovative strategies to achieve the leading position among retail coffee stores.
Investing in its employees and ethical and sustainable practices might seem like a drain on resources, but have won even more customer loyalty.